Again, I feel very strongly that it was your government that created this short timeline, and you have to allow for the House of Commons to do its work prudently. If this was referred to us, we have an obligation as a committee to do the work. Two weeks isn't enough.

The will we've seen from the Bloc already is that it's important to the committee. I hope Madam Zarrillo feels the same. I don't buy this “we don't have a lot of time”: That's on your government for not giving us the time to examine it.

I feel that it's your obligation as a representative on this committee to ensure we are given the time and the resources to evaluate this at the level that this responsibility was given to us. My office found out about it this morning. It's not fair. In its unfairness, you should allow the committee, in every way possible, to do the work we've been charged with. I think that's the minimum you and your government can do, given the last-minute way we received this and the amount of time.

If you're not willing to, then, as I said, that's something.... We'll see how the rest of the committee feels. We'll see the outcome of it, but it's just.... This is on you. Your government can give us the time if they think it's appropriate.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Just for clarification, the motion was approved late on Thursday, and all parties were present at that meeting, so we knew when everybody else knew. So be it.

Go ahead, Madame Chabot.

1:10 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

That's true, Mr. Chair, but to my knowledge—correct me if I'm wrong—we have not received any communication from the clerk to inform us of it. We have just learned of it. I learned about it five minutes before you mentioned it.

I propose that the committee in fact study the four divisions of the bill that are related to employment insurance. Clearly, it will not be an opportunity to do a full review. We're still waiting for it. I propose that the meeting on Thursday, and another meeting next week if needed, be dedicated to a study of these four divisions and that we hear from witnesses. I think that will allow us to do this work.

Thank you.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Mr. Ruff, you had your hand up, and next is Madam Martinez Ferrada.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Ruff Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON

I just want to emphasize what exactly the instruction was to us all from the committee late last Friday afternoon. The finance committee referred this to us. As you know, they have a 500-page plus budget implementation act to review. We're the experts when it comes to this committee. We have the appropriate witnesses and level of review needed to provide those recommendations back. It's actually very responsible of the finance committee. I don't know which other committees were given the responsibility to dig into things, but that's our job: to dig into it and do our part. We need to do as much as we can before the deadline they gave us, so let's get to work.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Go ahead, Ms. Martinez Ferrada.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Soraya Martinez Ferrada Liberal Hochelaga, QC

My understanding is that the finance committee will study this clause-by-clause. All the same witnesses will be at both the finance committee and ours, so we're doubling the witnesses and the work the finance committee is doing. My understanding is that we cannot decide which clauses we're studying. The finance committee will send those to us, if we want them. Those are the ones we can study, but the same witnesses will be at the finance committee. I don't see how we can have three meetings between now and May 27 if all the same resources will be supporting the finance committee.

Again, to your point, all parties are represented at the finance committee, so we're actually going to be doubling the witnesses' time and the clause-by-clause study.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

I believe Madame Chabot had her hand up, then we'll go to Madame Gladu and Mr. Ruff.

I'll remind the committee that we've gone beyond our timeline. We will adjourn shortly if we do not come to a conclusion.

1:10 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Mr. Chair, with respect, if the Standing Committee on Finance felt the need to call on our committee, the Standing Committee on International Trade and the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, it's to ensure that we can study the issues related to our area of expertise.

I would not find it diligent to refuse to help the Standing Committee on Finance under the pretext that it would still be doing the work. Since it is referring issues related to employment to us for study, I'm of the view that we should take the opportunity. In fact, I applaud the Standing Committee on Finance for doing this.

In my opinion, if we hold two meetings with witnesses, we could do the work. It would be a matter of scheduling one next week and dedicating our meeting on Thursday to this study.

I would be prepared to vote, Mr. Chair.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Okay, I'll call the question.

Let's be clear. What is the motion on the floor?

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB

I can do it.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Okay, please move a motion. I didn't get a clear motion from Madame Chabot.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB

I will move two motions. I will start with one.

My first motion is that HUMA meet three times between today and May 26.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Okay, you have heard the motion.

I see no discussion. We'll have a vote on the motion that HUMA schedule three meetings between now and May 26.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

Soraya Martinez Ferrada Liberal Hochelaga, QC

I want to thank the member for the motion.

I would add to the motion. We depend on resources, so we have to add that in: depending on the resources of the committee to support HUMA on having three meetings.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

That's a given. We can only schedule a meeting when services are available.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

Soraya Martinez Ferrada Liberal Hochelaga, QC

Exactly. If you have a motion that we study what is submitted to us clause-by-clause before May 27, and we don't do it, we're not responding to the motion we voted on. I'm just asking that we check with the clerk about whether we can have support for three meetings between now and May 27.

1:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

The clerk will advise me, the chair, on whether we can schedule that. If we cannot schedule it, I will advise the committee.

May 16th, 2022 / 1:15 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Danielle Widmer

It's also a matter of service availability, as well. I will make the request to the individuals responsible for service and make sure that all of the services are available.

1:15 p.m.

An hon. member

But when they're organizing services, does government business take priority or not? There isn't a standing policy [Inaudible—Editor].

1:15 p.m.

The Clerk

I'm not too certain about that. We have to look at services and what is scheduled that day. I can make the request and see if the services are available that day.

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB

Okay.